The ten-day itinerary was split between Estonia and Finland, where the group of seven current and former Lowell Bell Ringer board members toured sites of bell production and ringing across both countries. The group spent the first seven days in Estonia, beginning in the capital city of Tallinn, where they rang bells at churches around the old town such as Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Nicholas' Orthodox Church, Lasnamäe Orthodox Church, and Our Lady of Kazan Church. At each site, students climbed the towers and learned directly from priests, picking up new peals and melodies to bring back to Lowell House. Beyond the capital, the group traveled to Pärnu and Narva, visiting churches and museums, and immersing themselves in local culture. The group then took the ferry to Helsinki, where they visited Uspenski Cathedral and helped a Finnish bell ringer prepare a bell-laden hot air balloon for a world record attempt.

For returning participants, the trip offered a chance to revisit familiar traditions with fresh eyes and ears. “I have enjoyed every bell ringing trip,” former president Austin Wang ’26 said, “but as someone who's been on previous ones, I was much more familiar with the region and the culture. This did not at all diminish my enjoyment of the trip. We still climbed churches, rang bells, met priests, sat in a submarine, took the ferry, and, of course, strengthened our club camaraderie. All of this proved just as fun this time as on my first.” 

Alongside the familiar came a few firsts. “Not to show off too much, but we even got to do some things we've never done, and perhaps will never do again,” Wang said, such as, “helping set a world record involving bells in a hot air balloon, and celebrating not one, but two birthdays during the trip.”

Beyond the adventures, others came away with a deeper appreciation for the role bells play in the communities that ring them. For secretary Andrew Park ’28, that meant seeing firsthand how the tradition connects people. “I learned to better appreciate how the bells bring people together, especially after seeing the churchgoers, the vast network of bell ringers, and the chapels in Tallinn and Helsinki,” he shared. Current president Živa Benedejčič ’28 said she “came back from this year’s trip with a greater understanding of the cultural value of bells and the ringing tradition, as well as the rich histories of Estonia and Finland.” 

That understanding carries a sense of responsibility. “Bell ringing is a dwindling art, especially with the implementation of automatic church bell ringers,” outreach chair Mirika Jambudi ’27 said, “so it’s even more important that we continue to learn and pass on these traditions.” 

The students look forward to doing that back on campus. “The ringers have polished their bell ringing techniques, and this journey will no doubt inform their improvisations, which they are excited to share with you in the coming year,” Wang said.